James Worthy says LeBron James’ Lakers title deserves respect
James Worthy told TMZ Sports he values LeBron James’ Lakers run, saying the 2020 title still counts in a tougher NBA era.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
3 min read
James Worthy LeBron Lakers talk is hitting a nerve in L.A., and the Showtime legend is not joining the pile-on after James’ run with the franchise came to an end.
Speaking to TMZ Sports at Derek Fisher’s Be Better Foundation golf outing last week, Worthy said he appreciates what James delivered in Los Angeles, especially given where he believes the Lakers were before James arrived.
Worthy, a three-time NBA champion with the Lakers and a Finals MVP, pointed to the state of the organization before James’ move to Los Angeles and described that period as “misery,” according to TMZ Sports.
His bottom line was blunt: James gave the Lakers a championship, and Worthy is not interested in dismissing it because it came in the so-called bubble season.
What did James Worthy say about LeBron James and the Lakers?
Worthy told TMZ Sports that James’ Lakers years should be judged with some perspective. “For what he did for L.A. while he was here, I don’t think you can argue,” Worthy said, according to TMZ Sports.
That view cuts against some of the grumbling around Laker Nation. TMZ Sports reported that some Lakers fans were pleased to see the four-time champion leave, with complaints that he did not fit the franchise or meet the expectations attached to wearing purple and gold.
Worthy was not buying that frame. He noted that sustained dominance is harder to build in the current NBA, and he said he would not criticize James for leaving Los Angeles with one championship instead of a dynasty.
The “bubble ring” label refers to the Lakers championship that came during the NBA’s isolated restart season. Worthy’s stance, as reported by TMZ Sports, is that the title still belongs in the ledger and should be appreciated rather than treated like a lesser prize.
Why the Lakers legend is giving LeBron credit
Worthy’s opinion carries local weight because he is one of the names permanently tied to the Lakers’ glamour years. He won three titles with the franchise and captured Finals MVP honors during his own run in Los Angeles.
TMZ Sports also noted that Worthy had previously said, three years ago, that James could someday have a statue outside Crypto.com Arena depending on how his career finished. With James’ Lakers chapter now over, TMZ Sports asked Worthy where he stands.
The answer, at least from the footage and comments reported by TMZ Sports, is appreciation over dismissal.
James’ time with the Lakers brought the franchise one championship. For Worthy, that is enough to keep the conversation from turning into a send-off full of complaints.
In a city that counts banners like currency, Worthy’s message was clear: one ring still shines.
This story draws on original reporting from TMZ.